While Xiao Huayong was admiring paintings, word came that someone from the Hall of Bright Governance had arrived, summoning him to the hall by order of Your Majesty.
Upon arriving at the Hall of Bright Governance, Xiao Huayong found the Youning Emperor absent. A eunuch informed him that His Majesty was en route with his ministers.
Xiao Huayong had just taken a seat—not even having touched his tea—when a large dog burst into the hall, seemingly chased, charging straight toward him. Evading the dog would have been effortless for Xiao Huayong, but doing so would reveal his martial prowess.
Tianyuan and others were stationed outside. The eunuchs inside the hall rushed to intervene but were too late. Xiao Huayong reacted with the sluggishness of an ordinary person. Fortunately, the dog leaped past him, knocking over the teacup and splattering tea all over his robes.
At that moment, Tianyuan rushed in with his men toward Xiao Huayong, while Liu Sanzhi entered with three-year-old Xiao Changhong. The child approached the dog, grabbed its ear, and hung his head before Xiao Huayong. "Imperial Brother..." he murmured.
The dog belonged to Xiao Changhong, who was born after a decade of the Youning Emperor having no heirs. As the emperor's long-awaited son in his later years, Xiao Changhong enjoyed exceptional favor—frequently summoned to share morning and evening meals with His Majesty.
"It's alright," Xiao Huayong reassured him with a gentle smile.
"Your Highness," Liu Sanzhi interjected, "His Majesty and the ministers will arrive shortly. Perhaps you should accompany this servant to change your robes. Recently, the emperor ordered the Imperial Wardrobe to prepare two sets for you, intending to deliver them at an opportune time."
Xiao Huayong nodded in agreement, instructing Tianyuan and the others to wait outside. The inner chamber was the emperor's resting place, forbidden to ordinary personnel.
Liu Sanzhi produced a round-collar robe and personally assisted Xiao Huayong in changing. Throughout the process, Xiao Huayong kept his arms outstretched. His vision remained limited to shades of black, white, and gray, with occasional fleeting glimpses of color.
Just as Liu Sanzhi finished adjusting the robe's hem, voices echoed from outside—the Youning Emperor arriving with his ministers.
When Xiao Huayong emerged, several ministers paled at the sight of his reddish-yellow robes.
"Your Highness! How dare you show such disrespect to the sovereign!" the Minister of Rites immediately accused.
Xiao Huayong frowned. Their reactions confirmed his suspicion about the robe—the pattern was unproblematic, so the issue must lie in the color he couldn't perceive. He deduced it must be reddish-yellow, a hue reserved exclusively for the emperor.
When the dog charged at him earlier, Xiao Huayong had assumed it was a test of his martial skills—a temptation he resisted. Later, when the dog overturned the teacup and Xiao Changhong appeared, he hadn't suspected deliberate scheming, chalking it up to the child's failure to restrain his pet.
But when Liu Sanzhi suggested changing robes inside the hall, he knew something was amiss. The emperor had countless ways to test him, and he couldn't pinpoint the exact intent—so he played along. Now he understood: the emperor doubted his claimed inability to distinguish colors.
Had he been feigning color blindness, he would never have dared to wear reddish-yellow with such composure and parade before the ministers.
Were the Youning Emperor not on his side, this garment alone could convict him of treasonous ambitions.
Yet Xiao Huayong knew the emperor would protect him—for now. Should they ever turn against each other, this incident would simply become another charge on the list.
"How have I shown disrespect to the sovereign?" Xiao Huayong inquired, feigning confusion."Your Highness has overstepped by wearing crimson-yellow robes, which are reserved for the Son of Heaven," the Minister of Rites reprimanded Xiao Huayong.
Xiao Huayong lifted his robe and knelt before the Youning Emperor: "Your Majesty, forgive this offense. Your son has violated ritual propriety."
The Youning Emperor bent down and personally helped Xiao Huayong to his feet: "This was specially tailored for the Crown Prince by the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau."
The officials' expressions shifted slightly. The Minister of Rites spoke again: "Your Majesty, the rituals of Heaven and Earth cannot be transgressed. Disrupting established rules may lead to great calamity."
"Qilang is the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince is also a ruler—why should he not wear crimson-yellow?" the Youning Emperor declared. "If I say he can, then he can!"
Thus the matter was dismissed. Faced with the emperor's firm stance, the ministers dared not press further. At worst, this was merely an instance of imperial favor—a father showing preference for his son. What right did subordinates have to comment?
However, a single robe couldn't conclusively prove Xiao Huayong's inability to distinguish colors. Next, the Youning Emperor conducted a sandtable exercise with several ministers, recreating the battle against the Turks. Both sides placed small red and blue flags on the sandtable.
As they debated, Xiao Huayong saw no distinction between the flags—both appeared black to him. The Youning Emperor subtly observed his reactions throughout.
During heated discussions where ministers voiced conflicting opinions, several flags were accidentally knocked over and landed near Xiao Huayong.
As Xiao Huayong gathered them, the Youning Emperor suddenly said: "Qilang, hand me the two red flags."
Xiao Huayong, holding multiple indistinguishable flags, passed them all to the emperor.
The Youning Emperor took two red ones and repositioned them on the sandtable.
This confirmed Xiao Huayong's color blindness. After the ministers departed, Xiao Huayong suddenly knelt: "Your Majesty, with my impaired vision rendering me incapable of distinguishing colors, I am unfit to remain Crown Prince. I beg Your Majesty to depose me."
"Qilang, do you resent your father for testing you?" The Youning Emperor personally helped him rise.
"This son wouldn't dare..." Xiao Huayong coughed before continuing. "By my mother's grace, I was presumptuously made Crown Prince despite childhood frailty and limited lifespan. I've failed to share Your Majesty's burdens... Now with color blindness, I'm even less worthy."
"I know you feel wronged. Had it not been for you years ago, I would be the one with limited days now." The Youning Emperor was visibly moved. "Regarding the polo incident—Wang Zheng insists you framed him. I needed undeniable proof, hence today's test."
"Your color blindness remains known only to us. Master Xuqing won't disclose it. It doesn't hinder recognizing officials or reviewing memorials."
"Since your coming of age, you've assisted me tirelessly. The Three Departments praise you unanimously. You are the most qualified Crown Prince in my heart."
"This son is ashamed... cough... unworthy of such praise..." Xiao Huayong bowed his head. "With limited years left, I wish to marry early and spend my remaining time with my wife... I beg Your Majesty's consent."
His sincere plea prompted the emperor to pat his shoulder: "Qilang, you've committed no fault. How could I depose you? Moreover, removing a Crown Prince affects the state's foundation—it cannot be done lightly. Don't quarrel with your father. The Eastern Palace will always be yours, and only yours."
After his petition was rejected, Xiao Huayong left the Hall of Bright Governance. Wang Zheng, who had been waiting, was immediately summoned inside.“Was the second son of the Wang family a suicide or a murder?” the Youning Emperor asked Wang Zheng as soon as he saw him.
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